Cassandra Southwick
The novel revolves around Cassandra Southwick, a young woman who marries for security and convenience rather than love. She is portrayed as a strong-willed individual who navigates the societal expectations placed upon her while maintaining her independence of thought and spirit. The story explores themes of marriage, social class, and personal identity through Cassandra's experiences.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1828 · Genre: Poetry, Historical Fiction, Religious Literature · 2,070 words
First lines
In 1658 two young persons, son and daughter of Lawrence Smithwick of Salem, who had himself been imprisoned and deprived of nearly all his property for having entertained Quakers at his house, were fined for non-attendance at church. They being unable to pay the fine, the General Court issued an order empowering "the Treasurer of the County to sell the said persons to any of the English nation of Virginia or Barbadoes, to answer said fines. " An attempt was made to carry this order into execution, but no shipmaster was found willing to convey them to the West Indies.
What this Textopian page supports
Cassandra Southwick is listed on Textopian as a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, dated 1828 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Date: 1828 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical Fiction, Religious Literature, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 2,070 words
- Structure: 1 section, 36 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Cassandra Southwick by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythmic and lyrical language typical of poetry.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical context, addressing themes of persecution and societal norms of the 17th century.
- Religious Literature — The text explores themes of faith, divine intervention, and moral struggle, reflecting religious beliefs and values.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques societal injustices, particularly regarding the treatment of dissenters and women.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · 19th Century · New England · Regionalism · Folklore · Mythology · Greek Mythology · Cassandra Legend · Tragic Heroine · Female Protagonist · Coming of Age